Sky-high cost of council flights

South Lanarkshire Council has spent more than £32,000 on flights over the last three years.

Figures from the Taxpayers Alliance highlighted the local authority spend between January 2015 and February 2018.

South Lanarkshire’s £32,467.06 spending on flights was almost three times as much as North Lanarkshire during the same period.

Central Scotland Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell said: “It is difficult to see how these two areas of Scotland, equal in population and facing similar challenges in terms of public services, could differ so greatly in flight spending.

“The figures come just months after local authorities were forced to raise council tax bills to cover funding gaps.

A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council said: “Of the total £32,643.29 spending on flights attributed to South Lanarkshire Council by the Taxpayers Alliance, some £8255 was funded by other organisations.

A further £11,471 was to support educational trips.

“The remaining £12,917 expenditure supported travel to a range of destinations in connection with the delivery of the duties and responsibilities of South Lanarkshire Council, its staff and its elected members.

“Wherever possible low-cost carriers are used.”